The parliament of Catalonia approved a motion which bans bullfights. This decision may be interpreted – especially animal rights advocates – as a victory since it was achieved in the country seen as the motherland of bullfights.

However, the decision has little to do with animal rights, and with regard to Spain as the world center of bullfights, the ban is far from being a serious achievement. First, Catalonia does not have much tradition in what comes to bullfights. Second, nationalist Catalans have the habit of doing politics through shock and provocation – not so long ago, pictures of the Spanish Royal Family were burnt in the middle of the street – and this is what the ban really stands for.

After the enormous display of national unity that followed the World Cup – so incredibly significant that Spanish flags were waved and people sang “I am Spanish” in Basque public squares – Catalonia’s nationalists needed to find a controversial cause, able to generate commotion and stir up nationalist feelings throughout Spain. Banning bullfights fulfills those requirements.

Regardless of weather they enjoy bullfights the majority of Spanish citizens perceive it as part of their national identity, and not just as a symbol of regions such as Madrid or Andalucía. In fact, even some prominent Catalans opposed the ban. Therefore, by banning bullfights in Catalonia, nationalist Catalans are serving a two-folded purpose: they are provoking the Spanish society; and they are also symbolically demonstrating their wish to become independent from Spain.

10 June 2010. Approximately 1 million people take the streets of Barcelona calling for greater autonomy for Catalonia. The next day, Spain wins the world cup. How can these two very different but related events be connected?

Football instils national unity, familiarises people with the country’s symbols and gives a sense of belonging, of national glory and pride. Those who advocated Catalan autonomy on the 10th of June did not stop from celebrating the Spanish victory on the 11th, whilst failing to realize the contradiction in such action.

Football is a demonstration of patriotism, civic nationalism, internal union and belief in one’s country. National teams always adopt national symbols. When the Spanish took their flags, hymns, songs and t-shirts to celebrate in Barcelona, they didn’t find chants of protest but people holding on to the very same symbols in support for the national team.

The timing of this world cup victory was crucially important to counter the voices of autonomy in Barcelona. The media will not be paying attention to further developments, as all eyes will be focused on the national team. Moreover, the people of Catalonia will not feel the momentum of having 1 million people protesting in the streets of Barcelona, but instead the heat of winning the world cup, of being part of the country who won the epic tournament.

For now, the Spanish national team managed to roll back the media’s attention and deny the political profits of having 1 million people protesting to the Catalan leadership.